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ADU ReVIeW

Ivorian opportunity is golden

ote d’Ivoire will look towards its gold in- array of other minerals, including iron ore, procedures, offering tax incentives to ensure
Cdustry to grow mining’s contribution to nickel, copper, bauxite and diamonds. project profitability and establishing a trans-
GDP over the coming years. The Ivorian Government has outlined its parent institutional framework.”
After achieving a total GDP of $US60 mil- growth plan through five pillars: modernisa- Today, nearly 200 exploration licences
lion in 2020, Cote d’Ivoire has set itself the tion of infrastructure, improvement of gov- have been granted in Cote d’Ivoire, with
goal of growing mining’s contribution to its ernance of the mining sector, increasing gold accounting for 93% of those. There are
economy to at least 5% by 2025. and diversifying production, qualifying local currently nine operating gold mines in Cote
Cote d’Ivoire Director General of Mines workforces and socio-economic develop- d’Ivoire, with Tietto’s Abujar project expected
and Geology for the Ministry of Mines, Pe- ment. to achieve first gold pour later this year.
troleum and Energy Ibrahima Coulibaly said There are also four operating manganese
there was more than enough untapped geol- mines and one nickel mine in the country, but
ogy to explore. Coulilaby maintained gold was the strongest
“Cote d’Ivoire is blessed with a variety of commodity going forward.
mineral occurrences,” Coulibaly said at Af- “The mining industry is really in a very
rica Down Under. “The country is underex- good momentum in Cote d’Ivoire and ex-
plored; we have a vast zone of greenfield ploration is being intensified,” Coulibaly said.
areas to be explored. Cote d’Ivoire holds “Cote d’Ivoire’s annual mining production
roughly 35% of the greenstone belts, Birim- has been growing over the past 10 years.
ian rocks, of the West African subregion, Gold production reached its best recorded
which makes it a very attractive mineral ju- year at 41t in 2021. With the commissioning
risdiction, particularly for gold.” Ibrahima Coulibaly of three new mines next year, we expect to
A number of ASX-listed gold producers start being an important player in this area
and explorers are already spending large “Cote d’Ivoire has a long tradition of being in Africa.”
amounts of money in the West African coun- one of the powerhouses of West Africa, and In the meantime, Coulilaby said Cote
try, including Tietto Minerals Ltd, Turaco a perfect place for business in the sub re- d’Ivoire would focus on quickening its ap-
Gold Ltd, Mako Gold Ltd and Perseus Min- gion,” Coulibaly said. “The business climate provals process for mining projects.
ing Ltd. has been improved by securing businesses, – Fraser Palamara
Cote d’Ivoire is also prospective for an facilitating and simplifying company creation

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